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<blockquote data-quote="Ricochet1a" data-source="post: 1123707" data-attributes="member: 22880"><p>Nope... Can't be pulled off in the extended service areas. They'd have Couriers spending 1-2 hours just getting off a single package. Express would lose so much cash if they tried this that they'd be swimming in red. The stations that have these service areas also don't have the staffing to even think about doing this.</p><p></p><p>With the anticipated revenue number put out by Express ($150 million), I calculated that they are HOPING for about 200 delivery appointments per day for each of the large metro mega-stations, and about half that number for the smaller, non-feeder stations (I'm having to assume all feeder stations are in PM service areas and will be excluded from this insane program). This works out to an average of 3-4 delivery appointments per route, per day (with variation depending on the coverage of resi areas by routes). Some routes that are practically exclusive to resi areas could see (if my numbers are right - based on Express' desired scope of the program), upwards to 7 delivery appointments per day. </p><p></p><p>Now throw in DRA and have the Courier get reminders each time a delivery appointment window is open (the PPAD will prompt the Courier), and things will be an absolute mess. As another poster stated, this is more in REFLEX to what UPS is already doing, rather than a carefully thought out plan on the part of Express. This is what leads me to believe (and the individual I spoke with), that Express will merely add additional routes to handle delivery appointment packages and try to get as many onto delivery routes as practical without destroying productivity on those routes. If you have delivery routes breaking pattern every hour to get off a delivery appointment, they'll add at least 30 minutes to their on road time with no real additional productivity to show for it. The additional revenue for those appointments will in no way make up for the loss of time the Courier experiences (additional on-road time), or the potential to burn SO commit times if those are mixed in with other P2 stops. From what I picked up from the conversation and what I have been able to infer what will happen when this is put into action, it will be an absolute disaster in the making. Express will either need to up the charge for the service (should demand for the service materialize), and bite the proverbial bullet and add more routes to handle just this volume - or terminate the program entirely. </p><p></p><p>Yes, the dreaded DEX 8 will be reduced, but so what. Having a Courier spend 15-20 minutes breaking pattern to get off a single resi delivery, as opposed to making 2 reattempts that only take maybe 5 minutes each is insane. One part of this program that DOES make sense is that ISRs will have the ability for the recipient to 'electronically sign' for the package, thereby enabling the Courier to drop and run instead of trying to indirect or making another attempt the next day. This part of the program makes sense. However, this option (from what I understand), still requires the Courier to make the delivery within a window of time (not 100% sure on this). </p><p></p><p>The only potential goal of this program is to get off those DSRs which never have the resi present during regular delivery times (primarily SO). PO that goes to a resi more often than not has the recipient waiting for the piece (PO already has a <em>de facto</em> window in place for most stations, 8:30 to 10:30 AM). This means what this will do is shift SO to the evening option (5 PM to 8 PM). All service levels are available to use with this 'service', but I think that SO will be the primary 'focus' of this program -getting appointments set up for when the typical resi is home from work and can take their package in person. This is why I see the need for Express to add additional routes and just hold those items that have appointments after 3PM for a "PM delivery route". But this brings up a whole new problem - <u>where in the hell are stations going to get the additional vehicles to run these routes?</u> Most stations are already beyond capacity for vehicle parking. Are they going to lease a bunch of pickups and let new hire Couriers take off and get the deliveries completed? In theory, if DRA is enabled and functioning, DRA should be able to plot out a delivery pattern so that any idiot can get off the volume. </p><p></p><p>The whole 'thing' about this, is that Express is going to be requiring more flexibility out of its Couriers, WITHOUT increasing their rate of pay one bit. Yes, you may get some additional hours - so what. If you are expected to pull all of this off and be flexible to your employer, you SHOULD be compensated more in return for your increased effort and capability to 'deliver service'. Don't hold your breath for a pay increase... </p><p></p><p>What is more than apparent now with this program, is that Express is pushing the demand for flexibility out of its Couriers more and more (remember me writing about split shifts and recalls?). This is all leading up to the slow elimination of the full time Courier. XS is gradually disappearing (with DRA, customers will pull most of it on their own). Shippers are redesigning their networks to enable use of non air methods of getting their volume delivered within the time frames they want (while using OTR line haul). With more and more volume being pulled off of the traditional delivery route, the hours of the AM delivery route will decline to the point where part-timers can run them. Now do those 15,000 Sprinters make sense?</p><p></p><p>I see this as just another crank of the knob to the burner under the 'frog in the kettle'. All of you are just going to continue to 'work as directed', until you realize that Fred is running your life without compensating you anywhere near what you're worth. I'm still left wondering when in the hell will the Couriers finally give up acting like those cats running off in different directions, and realize that if they intend on staying in Express, they will not only need to organize at their station, BUT establish a NETWORK among each other, AND get out and make contacts with other Couriers in adjoining stations and grow the network until at least 400 stations have an organizer in them. This means that there will need to be a CENTRALIZED hub of information exchange, station organizers will need to be willing to take direction from the hub and play the role of semi-professional organizers and grow the network and bring in additional stations within the network. Each of you going off in your own direction is absolutely USELESS - since it is obvious that only a fraction of stations out there have someone that reads this forum currently. If there were 400 regular posters to this forum who were current Express Couriers - all in separate stations - then yes, you could all just 'go for broke' and have a decent chance of getting enough cards in. </p><p></p><p>I'll continue in another post, this one is getting large, even for me...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ricochet1a, post: 1123707, member: 22880"] Nope... Can't be pulled off in the extended service areas. They'd have Couriers spending 1-2 hours just getting off a single package. Express would lose so much cash if they tried this that they'd be swimming in red. The stations that have these service areas also don't have the staffing to even think about doing this. With the anticipated revenue number put out by Express ($150 million), I calculated that they are HOPING for about 200 delivery appointments per day for each of the large metro mega-stations, and about half that number for the smaller, non-feeder stations (I'm having to assume all feeder stations are in PM service areas and will be excluded from this insane program). This works out to an average of 3-4 delivery appointments per route, per day (with variation depending on the coverage of resi areas by routes). Some routes that are practically exclusive to resi areas could see (if my numbers are right - based on Express' desired scope of the program), upwards to 7 delivery appointments per day. Now throw in DRA and have the Courier get reminders each time a delivery appointment window is open (the PPAD will prompt the Courier), and things will be an absolute mess. As another poster stated, this is more in REFLEX to what UPS is already doing, rather than a carefully thought out plan on the part of Express. This is what leads me to believe (and the individual I spoke with), that Express will merely add additional routes to handle delivery appointment packages and try to get as many onto delivery routes as practical without destroying productivity on those routes. If you have delivery routes breaking pattern every hour to get off a delivery appointment, they'll add at least 30 minutes to their on road time with no real additional productivity to show for it. The additional revenue for those appointments will in no way make up for the loss of time the Courier experiences (additional on-road time), or the potential to burn SO commit times if those are mixed in with other P2 stops. From what I picked up from the conversation and what I have been able to infer what will happen when this is put into action, it will be an absolute disaster in the making. Express will either need to up the charge for the service (should demand for the service materialize), and bite the proverbial bullet and add more routes to handle just this volume - or terminate the program entirely. Yes, the dreaded DEX 8 will be reduced, but so what. Having a Courier spend 15-20 minutes breaking pattern to get off a single resi delivery, as opposed to making 2 reattempts that only take maybe 5 minutes each is insane. One part of this program that DOES make sense is that ISRs will have the ability for the recipient to 'electronically sign' for the package, thereby enabling the Courier to drop and run instead of trying to indirect or making another attempt the next day. This part of the program makes sense. However, this option (from what I understand), still requires the Courier to make the delivery within a window of time (not 100% sure on this). The only potential goal of this program is to get off those DSRs which never have the resi present during regular delivery times (primarily SO). PO that goes to a resi more often than not has the recipient waiting for the piece (PO already has a [I]de facto[/I] window in place for most stations, 8:30 to 10:30 AM). This means what this will do is shift SO to the evening option (5 PM to 8 PM). All service levels are available to use with this 'service', but I think that SO will be the primary 'focus' of this program -getting appointments set up for when the typical resi is home from work and can take their package in person. This is why I see the need for Express to add additional routes and just hold those items that have appointments after 3PM for a "PM delivery route". But this brings up a whole new problem - [U]where in the hell are stations going to get the additional vehicles to run these routes?[/U] Most stations are already beyond capacity for vehicle parking. Are they going to lease a bunch of pickups and let new hire Couriers take off and get the deliveries completed? In theory, if DRA is enabled and functioning, DRA should be able to plot out a delivery pattern so that any idiot can get off the volume. The whole 'thing' about this, is that Express is going to be requiring more flexibility out of its Couriers, WITHOUT increasing their rate of pay one bit. Yes, you may get some additional hours - so what. If you are expected to pull all of this off and be flexible to your employer, you SHOULD be compensated more in return for your increased effort and capability to 'deliver service'. Don't hold your breath for a pay increase... What is more than apparent now with this program, is that Express is pushing the demand for flexibility out of its Couriers more and more (remember me writing about split shifts and recalls?). This is all leading up to the slow elimination of the full time Courier. XS is gradually disappearing (with DRA, customers will pull most of it on their own). Shippers are redesigning their networks to enable use of non air methods of getting their volume delivered within the time frames they want (while using OTR line haul). With more and more volume being pulled off of the traditional delivery route, the hours of the AM delivery route will decline to the point where part-timers can run them. Now do those 15,000 Sprinters make sense? I see this as just another crank of the knob to the burner under the 'frog in the kettle'. All of you are just going to continue to 'work as directed', until you realize that Fred is running your life without compensating you anywhere near what you're worth. I'm still left wondering when in the hell will the Couriers finally give up acting like those cats running off in different directions, and realize that if they intend on staying in Express, they will not only need to organize at their station, BUT establish a NETWORK among each other, AND get out and make contacts with other Couriers in adjoining stations and grow the network until at least 400 stations have an organizer in them. This means that there will need to be a CENTRALIZED hub of information exchange, station organizers will need to be willing to take direction from the hub and play the role of semi-professional organizers and grow the network and bring in additional stations within the network. Each of you going off in your own direction is absolutely USELESS - since it is obvious that only a fraction of stations out there have someone that reads this forum currently. If there were 400 regular posters to this forum who were current Express Couriers - all in separate stations - then yes, you could all just 'go for broke' and have a decent chance of getting enough cards in. I'll continue in another post, this one is getting large, even for me... [/QUOTE]
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